Chapter 36
In the study of the Crown Prince's residence, Qi Xiao stood before the writing desk, carefully examining a newly acquired set of purple-bristled brushes. There were twelve brushes in total, their handles shaped like gnarled branches or slender bamboo, all carved from Khotan jade, exquisitely crafted. Qi Xiao casually selected one and dipped it in water—the tip was sharp, even, round, and resilient, flawless in every way. Satisfied, Qi Xiao smiled faintly and asked softly, "Do you know why I summoned you?"
Huo Rong had been kneeling on the ground for some time without moving an inch. His expression remained composed. "This subordinate is foolish and does not understand."
"If you don't know..." Qi Xiao set down the brush in his hand casually, took a silk cloth to wipe his hands, and said slowly, "It is nothing, really... I was just at Luomei Residence a moment ago, and I seemed to have glimpsed someone who entered the mansion with you. What was his name... oh yes, Shen Xin. Was I seeing things?"
Huo Rong cursed Shen Xin silently in his heart for his recklessness. After a moment's hesitation, he replied quietly, "Your Highness, this subordinate and Shen Xin have never been assigned any proper duties since entering the mansion. We simply go wherever help is needed. It's likely that some menial task at Luomei Residence required him."
Qi Xiao smiled faintly. "So that's how it is... fortunately, there are no concubines of mine at Luomei Residence, otherwise I would have had reason to think more deeply about this. The two of you actually went there for no good reason."
Huo Rong kept his head bowed. "Your Highness jest."
Qi Xiao continued unhurriedly, "Huo Rong... you appear to be of a certain age. Have you taken a wife?"
Huo Rong shook his head. "Your Highness, this subordinate is twenty-three this year. Due to constantly being occupied with duties, I have not married."
Qi Xiao smiled. "Then this is rather strange. How could I have heard that you already have a son and a daughter?"
Huo Rong's gaze snapped to Qi Xiao, and fine beads of sweat gradually began to appear on his forehead...
"Huo Rong, from Changping, lost both parents young, raised by uncles and elder relatives in the clan..." Qi Xiao's long fingers tapped lightly on the desk. "Later, he entered the palace. Due to his steady and seasoned work, he earned the favor of Jiang Deqing, the Chief Steward of Qianqing Palace. Jiang even took him as a godson. In the third year after entering the palace, you returned to your hometown once. That month... heh, what happened there you know best. After that, you returned to Changping every half year, claiming to visit relatives. After five years of visiting, however, you somehow acquired both a son and a daughter... Huo Rong, have I said anything incorrect?"
Every word Qi Xiao spoke landed heavily on Huo Rong's heart. The composure Huo Rong had maintained earlier was gone, his face pale as paper. After a long while, he said quietly, "No... no, you haven't."
Qi Xiao smiled. "You've hidden it quite well. The relatives in your hometown in Changping don't even know you've married, let alone your godfather Jiang Deqing, who knows nothing at all. I must say, I almost admire you—the secrecy is watertight."
Huo Rong swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "Your Highness..."
"You're going to such great lengths to keep this hidden. I presume... you also know that Jiang Deqing is unreliable, correct?" Qi Xiao smiled as he watched Huo Rong and said slowly, "Don't worry. Since you don't want others to know, I won't spread it either."
Huo Rong's lips trembled unnaturally. He suppressed his mounting unease with effort and rasped, "Your Highness... what is it you wish to know?"
Qi Xiao smiled with satisfaction. "Clever. It was worth my considerable effort investigating your background. But it isn't what I want to know—it should be me asking you. What instructions did Jiang Deqing... or rather, the Emperor, give you? What do they want to find out?"
Huo Rong closed his eyes, thought of his son and daughter, and gritted his teeth. "Lord Jiang wants to know... who Your Highness associates with on a daily basis, what Your Highness does after returning to the mansion each day, and also... also to keep close watch on Your Highness's movements. The moment anything seems amiss, report immediately to the palace."
Qi Xiao nodded. "And why was Shen Xin at the back courtyard today? What did you two see and hear?"
"Your Highness, I truly don't know about Shen Xin going to Luomei Residence." Huo Rong hesitated, then said in a low voice, "Last night, Shen Xin told me that he saw Your Highness and the Young Lord behind the gallery... behind the gallery..."
Qi Xiao frowned impatiently. "I understand. Continue."
"Yes, they were too far away. Shen Xin actually didn't see clearly either. He told me he would find a way to sneak to the back, to investigate and find out for certain..." Huo Rong glanced at Qi Xiao carefully and said quietly, "Although Shen Xin and this subordinate were both assigned to Your Highness's side, we weren't acquainted before this. I tried to advise Shen Xin against seeking quick success, but he..."
Qi Xiao scoffed. "He wouldn't listen, always wanting to grab some major leverage against me to claim credit. Fool."
Huo Rong drew a deep breath. "Your Highness is exceptionally wise. It... it was exactly as you say."
Qi Xiao smiled softly. "Since you've told me the truth, I won't hide things from you either. The relationship between me and the Young Lord... is indeed what you suspected."
Huo Rong was greatly shaken. Qi Xiao continued, "Huo Rong, I summoned you alone today rather than Shen Xin. Do you understand why?"
The sweat on Huo Rong's forehead trickled down slowly, seeping into his collar. He shook his head slowly. Qi Xiao smiled faintly. "No need to be so frightened. This matter isn't a secret within my mansion. Many who serve me already know. I never guard against my own people. If you become 'one of my people,' then knowing this would be of no consequence."
Qi Xiao's tone shifted abruptly, carrying a hint of murderous intent. "But Shen Xin... that's a different matter. I cannot allow him to live. Huo Rong, for my peace of mind, and so that your son and daughter can continue living safely and securely in your hometown in Changping, take care of this trouble for me."
Huo Rong's face instantly turned ashen. It wasn't that he hadn't killed before, nor did he have any particular fondness for Shen Xin. But to take Shen Xin's life like this—how would he explain it to the Emperor?
As if seeing through Huo Rong's concerns, Qi Xiao smiled. "What's difficult about that? You need only act boldly. Afterward, simply tell the Emperor that Shen Xin had already been bribed by you. Fearing he would reveal things he shouldn't, you eliminated him first. Wouldn't that suffice?"
Huo Rong steadied himself and considered. It was a viable plan. Seeing that Huo Rong had been persuaded, Qi Xiao smiled and said, "Don't worry. Though my temperament isn't particularly good, I do have some mercy toward children. As long as you follow my instructions from now on, I guarantee your wife and children will remain safe."
Qi Xiao rose and handed the set of purple brushes he had been examining to Huo Rong, smiling. "These brushes are quite fine. The next time you return to your hometown, bring them for your son." With that, he paid Huo Rong no more attention, turned past the screen, and left the study to find Bai Ren.
In the warm chamber, Bai Ren was idly flipping through a book. When he saw Qi Xiao enter, he rose and said, "Your Highness."
"Sit." There were no servants in the room. Qi Xiao poured himself a cup of tea and drank. Bai Ren turned to look at Qi Xiao, who smiled. "Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"
Bai Ren shook his head. "Did Your Highness hear some good news just now?"
Qi Xiao laughed. "You noticed?"
Bai Ren immediately regretted his indiscretion and hurried to say, "I wasn't trying to pry into Your Highness's affairs..."
"No need to hold back. You may inquire about my affairs as you wish." Qi Xiao sat down beside Bai Ren and took his hand, squeezing it. "Do you remember I told you before that the Emperor sent four people to me?"
Bai Ren nodded. Qi Xiao smiled. "I just finished dealing with them. That's why I'm in such a lighter mood—it's showing on my face."
Bai Ren's eyes widened. "Dealt with? But those were people the Emperor assigned to Your Highness. How could you just deal with them so easily?"
"I have my own methods." Qi Xiao leaned down and kissed Bai Ren on the lips, smiling easily. "You can feel safe in my mansion from now on."
Bai Ren was still curious. He had always despised these underhanded dealings and had suffered greatly because of them. He simply couldn't understand how Qi Xiao could dispose of people so simply. Unable to resist, he asked Qi Xiao for advice. Qi Xiao smiled. "Even to learn a craft, one must bring a gift of two ounces of silk. Young Lord, you're coming to me empty-handed to learn the skills of running a household—wouldn't that be a bit excessive?"
Bai Ren was most susceptible to teasing. Assuming Qi Xiao didn't want to tell him, he felt awkward and said, "Even if I offered what I could, Your Highness probably wouldn't want it anyway..."
It was as if a kitten had scratched at Qi Xiao's heart. He sighed softly and said, "Bai Ren... are you deliberately trying to make me sympathize with you?"
Before Bai Ren could respond, Qi Xiao lowered his head and kissed his forehead, then said with a soft laugh, "Before, whenever I kissed you, you always looked like you were being coerced. If you take the initiative to kiss me today, I'll tell you everything."
Bai Ren's face flushed crimson upon hearing this. Qi Xiao smiled. "Not just this—even those informants in your mansion, I have a way to help you deal with them too."
Bai Ren's heart stirred. "Really?"
"When have I ever lied to you?" Qi Xiao sat up straight and smiled radiantly at Bai Ren. "If you don't want the help, that's fine too."
The temptation was simply too great. After an internal struggle, Bai Ren finally overcame his shame and drew closer to Qi Xiao. In normal circumstances, Qi Xiao would have pulled him into his arms long ago. But this time, Qi Xiao was determined to tease him—neither moving nor speaking, merely smiling at him. Bai Ren's face burned hotter and hotter. Hesitantly, he placed his hand on Qi Xiao's back,微微抬头，在祁骁唇上碰了一下，祁骁垂眸看着他一笑："我以前都是怎么亲你的？世子殿下就这样敷衍我么？"
百刃皱眉，顿了下吻上了祁骁的唇，学着祁骁平日的样子，试探的在祁骁唇上讨好的舔了一下，他方才吃过酥酪，唇齿间还带着奶香气，祁骁忍无可忍，还是将主动权揽了过来……
过了好一会儿祁骁满意的将人放开了，百刃脸红红的，低声道："殿下……现在能说了吧？"
祁骁本也没打算瞒他，就将之他如何命人去查霍荣的，如何觉察出猫腻派人去了霍荣老家，最后又如何恩威并施的收服了霍荣的种种跟百刃说了一遍，百刃暗暗叹息，最后苦笑一声道："殿下心思细腻，但这样的法子……没有得力的探子也做不成的，我手里也有些人，但也只能查些表面上的事，像是不惊动任何人就查到人家老家这样的事……他们是办不到的。"
祁骁自得一笑，百刃犹豫了下又问道："殿下……方才不说要帮我处理了我府上的那些耳目么？"
"这个更简单了。"祁骁拉过百刃的手轻松笑道，"我府中如今干净了，你只需日日住在我这边，我保证他们再也监视不着你。"
百刃大怒，一甩手往里间去了，祁骁大笑不止，跟着进了里间，柔声赔笑了好一会儿才将人哄转回来。 raised his head slightly and pressed his lips to Qi Xiao's. Qi Xiao gazed down at him with a smile. "Is this how I usually kiss you? Young Lord, is this how you repay me?"
Bai Ren frowned, paused, then pressed his lips to Qi Xiao's in earnest, trying to imitate Qi Xiao's usual manner, tentatively licking at Qi Xiao's lips in a coaxing way. He had just eaten some cream pastries, so his lips still carried a milky sweetness. Qi Xiao could bear it no longer and took the lead back...
After quite some time, Qi Xiao released him with a satisfied smile. Bai Ren's face was flushed pink. He said quietly, "Your Highness... now will you tell me?"
Qi Xiao had never intended to keep him in the dark. He related everything—how he had ordered people to investigate Huo Rong, how he had sensed something amiss and sent people to Huo Rong's hometown, and finally how he had used a combination of kindness and severity to bring Huo Rong to his side. Bai Ren sighed silently, then said with a bitter smile, "Your Highness's mind is meticulous, but such methods... one cannot accomplish them without capable spies. I do have people under me, but they can only investigate surface matters. Investigating someone's hometown without alerting anyone... that's beyond their ability."
Qi Xiao smiled smugly. After a moment's hesitation, Bai Ren asked again, "Your Highness... didn't you just say you would help me deal with the informants in my mansion?"
"That's even simpler." Qi Xiao took Bai Ren's hand and said轻松笑道，"Now that my mansion is clean, you simply need to stay here with me every day. I guarantee they won't be able to monitor you anymore."
Bai Ren flew into a rage, swept his hand away, and stormed into the inner room. Qi Xiao laughed heartily, followed him in, and only managed to coax him back after apologizing tenderly for quite some time.